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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Key, n.² Also: kei, kee; kie(y, kye. [ME. keye (a 1400), key (also caye (1306)), OF. kay, kai, cay.The form kay, cay appar. does not occur in Sc.]

A quay or wharf. b. Key-dur, The opening or port in the side of a ship for exit to the quay.The earliest examples refer to Aberdeen.(a) 1399 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 377.
Jon Lambynton … sale … hew … xii wyndowys … and delyvir … thaim at ony key of Abirden, or ellis at the sandis 1413 Reg. Great S. (1814) 253/2.
Illam plateam et spacium commune quod dicitur le key [at Aberdeen] 1453 Misc. Spald. C. V. 49.
To the masonys for the makyng of the key, … for steppis to the key 1560–61 Ayr Common Good MS.
For bering doun of the stanes to the key vj s. 1598–9 Ayr B. Acc. 198.
[To the men] that helpit to red the grund of the key 1636 Fam. Innes 225.
Neir to the Grand Augustines wpon the Key, so it is called in Frence 1654 Nicoll Diary 123.
It was a great providence that scho [the ship] did ly out at the fardest key [supra the outmest pairt of the peir of Leith] 1662 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 491.
For the more commodious laidining and landing of boatis, that their be ane litle key builded at the Broomelaw 1682 Aberd. Chart. 274.
Besides the reparing of the key alongst the shore, which is of a considerable length 1718 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 18.
These [ships] longest in the harbour to lye furthest off the key or breast(b) 1521 Douglas Corr. 77.
A bark and v marchantis shippes … lay within the kee at Leith(c) 1632 Justiciary Cases I. 200.
The said schip … brocht in … within the … heavin of Leith and laid fast at the new kie 1645 S. Leith Rec. 59.
The new kye 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 23.
For ane pilot to the balest kiey [at Newcastle] 6 li. 1658 Edinb. B. Rec. IX. 95.
The customes imposed … for repairing of the kie, pier, and shoir [of Leith]b. 1632 Justiciary Cases I. 200.
The said schip … lying at the new kie, hir haill durris being lockit and the kie dur with the haill poirtis of the said schip being maid fast within